'This Is Lloyd ... Maintain Focus'

NEW YORK—Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Lloyd C. Blankfein said the firestorm over civil-fraud charges leveled by the Securities & Exchange Commission is "certainly uncomfortable," but urged employees to remain focused in the coming weeks.

Mr. Blankfein, in his first comments since regulators charged the bank, said in a voicemail sent to employees world-wide that the firm will "act diligently to address the complaint with facts."